PLATTSBURGH — At the end of the 2011 football season, lineman Sean Shea wanted nothing more than an opportunity to run the ball for Plattsburgh High in his senior go-around.
After a successful offseason in the weight room, Hornets head coach Jerry Defayette granted Shea his wish with a starting spot at in the backfield this fall.
The senior did more than just run in a 34-19 victory over AuSable Valley in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference play Friday, accumulating 182 yards and a touchdown on the ground and a 78-yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter, for 260 all-purpose yards in the game.
“Running the ball, it’s a whole lot better than being on that line,” Shea chuckled. “Our team remained disciplined throughout the game and we executed Coach (Jerry) Defayette’s game plan. I couldn’t have done it without my offensive line, though.”
The converted lineman went over the 100-yard mark with over five minutes remaining in the fourth stanza with an electrifying 75-yard scamper down the sideline.
“Being here for four years, I’m comfortable with this leadership role on the team,” Shea said. “I emphasized to my teammates throughout practice this past week to stay composed.”
The Hornets totaled 274 rushing yards and four touchdowns including an 85-yard and two touchdown performance from senior back Jonas Miller.
Defayette, now in his second year at the helm, was content with his team’s play following the win.
“We knew that we were going to be in a scrap and our goal was to be able to have ball-control offense,” Defayette said. “We also managed the clock and gave the kids a lot of credit for being disciplined.”
To the delight of Defayette and his coaching staff, the Hornets failed to commit a single offsides penalty throughout the entire duration of the game
“We definitely came together as a team (Friday),” Defayette said. “In the past, we played on our heels and let the other team come to us. The kids played without the fear of making a mistake. They played aggressive football the way we’ve been teaching them.”
The Patriots made a valiant effort after a 22-point deficit following the third quarter with scores from Sultan Sikandar and an 81-yard touchdown reception from Ridge Perkett.
However, Plattsburgh High closed out the game with a strong defensive stand, allowing AuSable Valley to 99 rushing yards on 31 attempts in the contest.
Quarterback Kodie Simpson finished the game with 48 of those yards on 14 attempts, which also included a seven-yard score. Simpson concluded his night through the air with completions of 74 and 81 yards, going 5-for-10 with 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Following a dismal 1-6 season a year ago, Defayette stressed in the preseason that the Hornets were going back to the basics in an attempt to restore their institution back to a perennial contender in the CVAC.
“Any win is going to be gratifying, so we need to enjoy this tonight, but we need to start tomorrow preparing for next week and putting this behind us,” Defayette said. “That’s the program we are trying to create.”
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Plattsburgh High 34,
AuSable Valley 19
AuSable Valley 0 6 0 10 — 19
Plattsburgh High 7 7 8 12 — 34
First quarter
P- Miller 15 run (Shea kick), 1:28.
Second quarter
A- Savage 5 run (run failed), 1046.
P- Shea from Courson 78 pass (Courson kick), 11:07.
Third quarter
P- Lemieux 2 run (Miller run), 5:33.
Fourth quarter
P- Miller 5 run (kick failed), 1:27.
A- Sikandar from Simpson 74 pass (Owen kick), 3:40.
P- Shea 8 run (kick failed), 7:39.
A- Perkett from Simpson 81 pass (kick failed), 8:25.
Individual statistics
Rushing
A- Simpson 14-48, TD; Owen 4-28; Savage 12-21, TD; Cobb 1-2. Totals: 31-99, 2 TD.
P- Shea 9-182, TD; Miller 16-85, 2 TD; Courson 6-5; Rhodes 3-3; Lemieux 4-(-1), TD. Totals: 38-274, 4 TD.
Passing
A- Simpson 5-10-2-212, TD.
P- Courson 2-6-95, TD.
Receiving
A- Perkett 2-115, TD; Sikandar 1-74; Benway 1-18; Owen 1-5.
P- Shea 1-78, TD; Miller 1-17.
Interceptions
P- Courson; Rhodes.
